Committees

Promoting Wales for inward investment

Inquiry

Inward investment, a term often used interchangeably with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), refers to cross-border investment from one country to another and which aims to establish a lasting interest and effective voice in an enterprise. In FDI statistics, an effective voice means owning 10% or more of the equity share capital in an enterprise.

The UK ranks among the most successful countries in Europe for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects and the UK Government has signalled its intention to strengthen the UK’s offer for businesses and investors. However, Wales has struggled to attract the same level of inward investment as other nations and regions in the UK - in 2023 to 2024, it attracted roughly 3.5% of the UK's total FDI projects, less than Scotland (8.35%) and the North East of England (4.48%). 

This inquiry is looking at how ‘Brand Wales’ is promoted internationally to market Wales as a competitive destination for inward investment, and what lessons can be learnt from success stories in the creative industries and sports sectors.

  • How can Wales build on the success of its creative industries and sports sectors to attract inward investment?
  • How effectively is the ‘Welsh brand’ articulated and marketed to international audiences?
  • What barriers exist to promote Wales internationally as a destination for inward investment?
  • How well supported are Welsh businesses to attract inward investment?
  • How can inward investment be leveraged so that it delivers and supports sustainable, local benefit and prosperity?
  • Are there international examples of effective investment promotion campaigns that can inform Wales’s approach to attracting inward investment?

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was 11:59pm on 27 January 2025.

Upcoming events

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No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Monday 2 February 2026
3:00pm Public
Promoting Wales for inward investment - Oral evidence 2 February 2026
3:00pm
  • Tim Newns (Director, Office for Investment at Department for Business and Trade at UK Government)
  • The Lord Stockwood (Minister for Investment at Department for Business and Trade at UK Government)
The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Wednesday 10 December 2025
9:45am Private
10:15am Public
Oral evidence session 10 December 2025
Promoting Wales for inward investment; The environmental and economic legacy of Wales' industrial past - Oral evidence
10:15am
  • Rebecca Evans MS (Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning at Welsh Government)
  • Liz Lalley (Director - Economic Policy and Strategy at Welsh Government)
  • Andrew Gwatkin (Director - International Relations and Trade at Welsh Government)
10:15am
  • Oral evidence
Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 3 September 2025
2:30pm Public
Promoting Wales for inward investment - Oral evidence 3 September 2025
2:30pm
  • Russell Greenslade (Wales Director at CBI)
  • Andrew Carter (Chief Executive at Centre for Cities)
  • Howard Rupprecht (Managing Director at CSconnected Ltd)
  • Dr Rhian Hayward MBE (Chief Executive at AberInnovation)
Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 14 May 2025
2:00pm Private
2:30pm Public
Promoting Wales for inward investment - Oral evidence 14 May 2025
2:30pm
  • Mark Hallan (Director of Global Investment at Scottish Development International)
  • Joe Manning (Managing Director at MIDAS)
Room 16, Palace of Westminster

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